The European plane maker won the annual race for new orders, selling a net total of 1,036 new aircraft to 53 customers in 2015. Boeing registered just 768 net orders in 2015. Both companies’ order books were dominated by the single-aisle models, the A320 and B737.

But the US company did deliver the most commercial aircraft in 2015, with 762 new aircraft compared to Airbus' 635.

The race for aircraft orders is being driven by demand for new fuel-efficient jets, with Airbus' first new A320neo aircraft expected to be delivered in the coming weeks and Boeing's rival B737 MAX due to follow in 2017. In the long-haul sector, the A350 and B787 are being gradually expanded, and the new A330neo and B777-X models are also due to enter service in the coming years.

Both plane makers are now ramping up production of their best-selling models, to meet rising demand from the world's airlines. Between them, Airbus and Boeing now have a backlog of orders for a staggering 12,500 aircraft.